Jackson County hurricane season

Jackson County law enforcement and emergency operations officials are well prepared if a hurricane blows through this season.

"We're prepared all year long, not just during hurricane season," Jackson County Sheriff A.J. "Andy" Louderback said. In addition to having an approved evacuation route in place along state Highway 111 and U.S. 59, Louderback said there are pre-arranged locations that would be used as shelters in the case of a tropical storm.

For the 2011 hurricane season, which officially starts on June 1 and ends in Nov. 30, Jackson County has not implemented any new updates on their hurricane preparedness strategies.

"Our major concern would be flooding and high winds," Louderback said. "But we have gone though that before with Hurricane Rita. All coastal counties are usually well prepared for the season."